Construction panels

Abstract

A construction panel comprising two substantially parallel sheets of material interconnected by bridging portions integral with the sheets, the sheets and bridging portions being formed by a moldable hard-setting material reinforced by a plurality of randomly oriented metal fibers distributed therein. Also described is a method for making such a panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A construction panel comprising two substantially parallel sheets of concrete or mortar, said sheets being spaced apart and connected by bridging portions formed of concrete or mortar integral with said sheets, said bridging portions and at least the regions of said sheets at the respective ends of said bridging portions being reinforced with a multiplicity of randomly oriented metal fibers distributed therein, said sheets being otherwise substantially unreinforced, the cross sectional area of the bridging portions measured midway between said sheets comprising about 1-25% of the area of said panel, and a thermal insulating material filling the remainder of the volume between said sheets and surrounding said bridging portions. 
     
     
       2. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal fibers are present in a concentration of from 1-6% by volume. 
     
     
       3. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal fibers have a cross-sectional area not greater than 1 sq. mm. 
     
     
       4. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said metal fibers are of circular cross-section and the length:diameter ratio thereof is in the range of from 50:1 to 200:1. 
     
     
       5. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one exterior face of said panel is provided with a decorative finish. 
     
     
       6. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one exterior face of said panel is rendered. 
     
     
       7. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one face of said panel is tiled. 
     
     
       8. A construction panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one exterior face of said panel is covered with a layer of plastics material. 
     
     
       9. A construction panel consisting essentially of two substantially parallel sheets of concrete or mortar, said sheets being spaced apart and connected by bridging portions formed of concrete or mortar integral with said sheets, said bridging portions and the regions of said sheets at the respective ends of said bridging portions being reinforced with a multiplicity of randomly oriented metal fibers distributed therein and said sheets being reinforced with metal rods or bars, said bridging portions being substantially free of metal rods or bars the cross sectional area of the bridging portions measured midway between said sheets comprising about 1-25% of the area of said panel, and a thermal insulating material filling the remainder of the volume between said sheets and surrounding said bridging portions.